Temple Trails & Landslide @ Wulai

Temple Run &Landslide Hike 

Throughout Taipei there are "temple trails" that wind up the various mountains sprinkled throughout the city.  They are conveniently close and relatively short with amazing views.   (steep).   Nathaniel and I explored the  "temple trail" near the Jingmei apartment.  

Running...

Falling through a rotted board! No injuries but several spectators wanted photos to "notify the government."  

 On Sunday, we took the  bus to Wulai and went for a hike paralleling the river.  This man in his bench was our first sight getting off the bus and I was intrigued by his contentment.  I hope to see more contented people in swings in my future...

The trail was beautiful.  Wild impatiens, ferns, plant leaves the length of a child, steaming water (there are natural hot springs on this mountain) and 2 or 3 landslides. 

 

Great trunk design, the "snake" 

Busted water pipe spewing natural steam and hot water into the air.  

Landslide #1.  We arrived post landslide and embraced adventure over turning around and going back the way we had come. (duh).

Landslide #2....group vote: embrace adventure (heck yes) 

To the left is a steep drop off.  The picture doesn't do it justice (of course).  

Approaching Final Destination! 

We made it...celebratory photograph time! 

Sticky rice sticks (peanut flavored) 

Very chewy and soft.  

Food stands line the main street and landslides dot the mountains.  

Earthquake

5th floor-7 second shakes 

Today I felt an earthquake

As I was lying in my bed

Nothing fell or crashed

I didn't bump my head

but it was a mental trip 

not a sound slipped out of me 

I didn't hear or smell or speak

The fifth floor seven second shakes

From head to toes 

Today I felt an earthquake 

The lamp was shaking and I thought my room mate had "accidentally bumped" into the cinderblock wall behind my desk.  Then, my mind accepted what was really happening.   

"My School My Day"/ Fiest is brilliant

"My School My Day" 

Street my school is on.

My School, My day. 

So supportive and 

such a lovable place to be. 

My books and bag 

Leave with metro card

There's nowhere to go but down 

Down all those stairs 

Eat some egg roll stuff 

and walk to the metro line

Speak it slow. 

Take it easy on me. 

Shed some light. 

Not a native speaker you see. 

Green line and crowds

Put the headphones on

music will take me away. 

Making my americano @ 7-11! 

Shuffle with the crowds

We move as one 

Order a "me shi kafe ru de."  

HotAmericano coffee 

Finally got it right this week!  

The 7-11 clerk understood 

and shook his head.

Speak it slow

Take it easy on me. 

And Shed some light. 

Not a native speaker you see. 

Starter Class is last on left

My Class of 8 

Indoor sleepers on

And the phonics book

"Let's sing, Let's read, Let's draw!"

Hoki Poki,

"Stand up with me please"

Hands, shoulder, knees, & toes.  

Eva and Tiffany :) 

Teachers and me 

Get the help that we need
from a friendly academic staff.

My Care, street shoes
Leave on a high note
There's nowhere to go
There's nowhere to go

Speak it slow.
Take it easy on me.
And Shed some light.
Not a native speaker you see.

My School My School my day
My School Cat's School my day
My School My School my day
My School Cat's School my day 

What the commute is REALLY like

Free Lunch! 

Benjamin is his name
CopyCat is his game

 "Teacher Sarah," no one goes by
their last name
at school...whew. 

Taiwan Top Ten

Top 10 things I like about Taiwan...so far. 

“Sense of place is the sixth sense, an internal compass and map made by memory and spatial perception together.”― Rebecca Solnit, Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Landscape Wars of the American West

1. Shade Umbrellas 

My personal circle of shade 

to make me feel feminine (I should be on a rowboat somewhere) despite my sweaty exterior.  

Taiwan is HOT! 

2. Shaved cats...  

 with "boots."  

3.  Mountain Glimpses from the City

Nature encircles this city and 20-25 minutes in the right direction can take you from a metropolitan, taxi hailing corner to a trail up a mountain. 

4. Trees dripping with vines.

5. Older men carrying little dogs. 

6. Construction worker lady. 

Her red arms wave ceaselessly to warn us of danger.
It's the little things that amuse us when we travel. 

7. Hot Springs and beautiful places to swim.

Wulai Hot Springs.

7. The adventure of taking out the trash. 

Trash is sorted into food compost, recycle and normal.  The city takes all the compost to the country and  feeds the pigs! 

This previously mundane task has now become a sort of game.  

It's all in the timing.  

Hear the music, run down 5 flights of stairs, fling it into the correct truck. 

I DID IT! Gold stars are falling from the sky! 

8. Plants on rooftops, walls, balconies.

Taiwan's hot and rainy weather make
growing plants a piece of cake.

Plants anywhere and everywhere. 

9. Teaching in Slippers. 

10. Jingmei River Park  near my house!

It's so quiet and peaceful here.  

Taiwan Typhoon

 Taiwan is a tiny island, hot most of the year and mountainous from north to south but snow is only found on the top of the mountains, mostly unpopulated.  If school is canceled for weather it is for a typhoon not snow.   Today school was out for the rains and winds.  These are pictures form the river park 1 minute walk from my apartment.  There are 20 foot concrete walls that border the park and they are about 2.5 feet thick.  Now I understand why.  The water level rose up to 15 feet (I'm guessing).  

Stairwell turned mini waterfall

Tennis Courts

The "jogging path" comes to an abrupt end.  Wade it or go home...

The river is usually not past that pole

The River...